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Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Retail Salesperson Salary

Retail Salespersons earn a median $35,410 a year nationally. Sales and Related Occupations

U.S. median
$35,410
$17.02 per hour
Range
$27,210 – $47,890
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
3,897,860
across the U.S.
▲2.4%
Pay trend: The median for retail salespersons in the U.S. rose from $34,580 (May 2024) to $35,410 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).

What retail salespersons do

Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.

Typical education
No formal educational credential
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
-0.3% (slower than average)
Openings per year
520,600
Self-employed
3%

Employment of retail salespersons is projected to shrink 0.3% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 520,600 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Retail Salesperson take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Retail Salesperson
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$30,632
per year · effective tax rate 13.5%
$2,553Monthly
$1,276Twice a month
$1,178Every 2 weeks
$14.73Hourly
  • Federal income tax$2,069
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,195
  • Medicare (1.45%)$513
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$30,632

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$27,210$13.08$24,017
25th percentile$29,900$14.38$26,205
Median (50th)$35,410$17.02$30,632
75th percentile$38,670$18.59$33,251
90th percentile (top earners)$47,890$23.02$40,660

Best cities for retail salespersons (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Fargo, ND$35,860$30,994$34,1074,160
2St. Cloud, MN$34,860$29,144$33,2572,850
3Yakima, WA$36,640$31,620$33,0952,680
4Sioux Falls, SD$34,600$29,981$33,0805,960
5Rochester, MN$36,000$29,999$33,0302,900
6San Jose, CA$44,220$36,378$32,94418,340
7Duluth, MN$34,650$28,986$32,6543,490
8Rapid City, SD$33,350$28,977$32,5003,090
9Seattle, WA$42,080$35,991$32,38646,620
10Kennewick, WA$37,600$32,392$32,3663,580
11Billings, MT$35,760$29,989$32,0652,900
12Cedar Rapids, IA$33,430$28,422$31,9493,410
13Spokane, WA$36,880$31,813$31,7037,400
14Jackson, TN$30,990$27,080$31,6652,390
15Appleton, WI$34,540$29,194$31,5893,610
16Bellingham, WA$37,840$32,584$31,5332,830
17Kingsport, TN$31,200$27,249$31,5213,620
18Kansas City, MO$34,320$29,080$31,42426,110
19Bremerton, WA$38,470$33,091$31,3342,770
20San Francisco, CA$43,850$36,100$31,22539,460
21Burlington, VT$37,330$31,358$31,0633,550
22Olympia, WA$37,350$32,191$31,0513,180
23Eau Claire, WI$34,000$28,784$31,0192,650
24Madison, WI$35,830$30,174$31,0158,330
25Green Bay, WI$34,090$28,852$30,9954,120

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Retail Salesperson salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
Washington $39,560+3.2%$33,966 $35,860 – $54,66084,850
District of Columbia $38,500+1.9%$31,971 $36,400 – $49,5304,660
California $38,440+3.2%$32,040 $35,240 – $54,310376,460
Colorado $37,950+2.7%$31,711 $32,130 – $49,66076,660
Hawaii $37,790+4.8%$31,124 $30,660 – $49,23019,180
New York $37,720+1.9%$31,048 $33,650 – $58,630238,540
Vermont $37,400+1.6%$31,412 $31,060 – $55,7008,250
Alaska $37,290+0.9%$32,143 $30,700 – $51,2007,890
Oregon $36,770+1.7%$29,337 $31,720 – $49,09048,090
Maine $36,640+0.5%$30,287 $31,300 – $49,50018,450
Massachusetts $36,610+0.8%$29,986 $33,310 – $47,98086,860
New Jersey $36,520+2.5%$30,963 $32,220 – $60,21072,530
Connecticut $36,490+3.2%$30,783 $34,150 – $49,85042,410
Minnesota $36,370+3.0%$30,276 $28,710 – $48,08074,840
Montana $36,270+3.6%$30,375 $28,620 – $48,68013,490
New Hampshire $36,200+2.1%$31,267 $29,590 – $49,71023,880
North Dakota $36,040+1.0%$31,138 $28,140 – $49,82011,320
Arizona $35,720+1.1%$30,197 $30,820 – $47,22093,920
Maryland $35,510+3.5%$29,389 $31,200 – $46,13079,320
Illinois $35,370+2.6%$28,994 $31,200 – $48,010126,610
Delaware $35,360+3.4%$29,306 $31,200 – $47,42013,400
Idaho $35,080+5.0%$29,616 $26,330 – $49,98020,180
Rhode Island $34,860+0.0%$29,500 $31,200 – $47,06012,830
Michigan $34,640+3.9%$28,792 $27,770 – $48,320111,010
Wisconsin $34,480+2.5%$29,149 $27,300 – $47,87067,640
South Dakota $34,370+0.3%$29,796 $28,190 – $61,72014,180
Wyoming $34,310+9.1%$29,748 $24,750 – $54,3108,770
Virginia $34,240+4.5%$28,537 $27,540 – $46,590100,290
Nevada $34,190+2.3%$29,652 $26,930 – $47,27043,920
Florida $34,010+6.4%$29,507 $28,330 – $46,130333,460
Utah $33,900−1.2%$28,859 $26,410 – $49,09047,570
Missouri $33,460+7.1%$28,430 $28,600 – $46,61067,140
New Mexico $33,300+6.2%$28,472 $27,870 – $45,37023,800
Kansas $32,180+1.6%$27,027 $23,100 – $46,73033,360
Tennessee $31,950+3.8%$27,852 $23,720 – $47,72087,380
Nebraska $31,870+5.0%$27,199 $28,080 – $46,38022,780
Indiana $31,530+4.1%$26,614 $23,420 – $46,90083,670
North Carolina $31,370+4.3%$26,643 $23,040 – $46,070127,540
Iowa $31,360+4.4%$26,838 $25,220 – $45,90041,000
Pennsylvania $31,200+2.6%$26,291 $23,770 – $46,130141,790
Georgia $30,840+3.6%$25,982 $22,590 – $46,430143,120
Ohio $30,800+1.2%$26,863 $24,210 – $46,020137,370
Texas $30,800+2.2%$26,928 $23,330 – $45,080341,640
South Carolina $30,690+4.2%$26,155 $22,330 – $45,51067,310
Alabama $30,040+2.1%$25,080 $22,670 – $45,31060,880
Oklahoma $29,660+0.3%$25,223 $22,370 – $45,08043,830
Kentucky $29,650+0.7%$25,084 $22,400 – $43,85051,250
Louisiana $29,490+2.3%$25,377 $21,940 – $45,28049,570
Arkansas $29,270−0.5%$24,770 $23,830 – $39,79035,510
West Virginia $28,950+3.7%$24,710 $22,260 – $39,52019,050
Mississippi $28,640+3.0%$24,779 $22,120 – $41,99038,400

Related jobs

JobMedian salaryEducationGrowth 2025–35
Gambling Change Person and Booth Cashier$36,220No formal educational credential-1.9%
Cashier$32,880No formal educational credential-6.5%
Parts Salesperson$38,630No formal educational credential+3.0%
Counter and Rental Clerk$41,300No formal educational credential+3.0%
Telemarketer$35,450No formal educational credential-21.4%
Demonstrator and Product Promoter$39,320No formal educational credential+0.2%
Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers$41,380No formal educational credential-10.4%
Sales and Related Workers, All Other$48,280High school diploma or equivalent+1.1%
Model$48,470No formal educational credential-2.1%
First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers$48,520High school diploma or equivalent-3.7%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a retail salesperson make?

The national median salary for retail salespersons is $35,410 a year ($17.02 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $27,210 and the top 10% earn over $47,890. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays retail salespersons the most?

Washington has the highest median pay at $39,560. After taxes and local prices, Fargo, ND offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many retail salespersons are there in the U.S.?

About 3,897,860 people work as retail salespersons nationwide.

All 237 cities